Wealden

Wealden's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 150,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Wealden increased by 6.4%, from about 140,000 to 149,000.

The addition of just under 8,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wealden was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Wealden

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Wealden increased by three years, from 43 to 46 years.

This agricultural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 6,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 4,000.

About 14% of people in Wealden are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Wealden by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

Wealden saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.3%) households in Wealden had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 8.2% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 28% to 27%.

Across the region, only Lewes saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 7.8% to 9.2%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Wealden

The number of people in Wealden from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 140,000 in 2001 to about 150,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Wealden from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 930 in 2001 to just over 1,700 in 2011 (from 0.7% to 1.2%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 920 to just over 1,400 (from 0.7% to 1.0%).

Just over 340 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 250 in 2001 (0.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Wealden remained close to 97%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Wealden by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Wealden

The number of people in Wealden that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 19,000 in 2001 to just over 39,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 26% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Wealden that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 110,000 in 2001 to just over 95,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 10,000 to just under 12,000 (from 7.4% to 7.9%).

Just over 1,100 people (0.7%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 980 in 2001 (0.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Wealden increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Wealden by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Wealden

The percentage of Wealden residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.7% to 8.0% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.5%, while the percentage of Wealden residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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